Factors Influencing Decision Making About Living Donation Among Medical Students

Abstract Aim This study aimed to assess the factors influencing decision making about living donation among medical students. Method Three standardized survey questionnaires (the Altruism Questionnaire A-N, the Individual Questionnaire for studying approaches to transplantology, the Interpersonal Reactivity Index) were used among 316 students of nursing and paramedics. Results Nearly all the respondents (98%) approve cell transplantation, tissue transplantation, and organ transplantation if obtained from living donors. Of the respondents, 66% would consent to donate bone marrow, and 26% would give their consent only in specific situations. Most respondents reported to be encouraged to donate organs by the ability to help other people (56%), while their refusal would be because of the fear of undergoing medical procedures (13%). Older age and a higher score in the personal distress subscale are correlated with a lack of consent to donate bone marrow for transplantation. In the case of living organ donation, the increase in the scores in the fantasy scale caused a higher chance for consent to living donation, whereas older age was the predictor of lack of consent. Higher scores in the perspective taking subscale were found to be significantly correlated with fear of surgical treatment as the reason for refusing to give one’s consent to living donation. The belief that willingness to become a donor shows a person who has a sense of prosocial behavior was influenced by the fantasy and the empathic concern subscales. Conclusions The study group approves cell transplantation, tissue transplantation, and organ transplantation from living donors. These attitudes are determined by empathic behavior.